Author Topic: Steelseries Apex M800 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Read 7900 times)

DTRPS · « **on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 07:14:33 »

http://steelseries.com/products/keyboards/steelseries-apex-m800-customizable-mechanical-gaming-keyboard

So lads, any thoughts on this?

azhdar · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 07:24:51 »

No idea about the switches but few laughable points :

dual processor in a keyboard
that spacebar

Rodgaroon · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 10:49:39 »

Interesting. I find it funny that SS didn't make the APEX mechanical right away.....they would of been the first, non-custom RGB MK out there....3 years later this is nothing new.

pichu23 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 11:15:45 »

Any sort of gaming concept is laughable.

daerid · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 11:26:45 »

Quote from: Rodgaroon on Mon, 05 January 2015, 10:49:39

Interesting. I find it funny that SS didn't make the APEX mechanical right away.....they would of been the first, non-custom RGB MK out there....3 years later this is nothing new.

would *have*

Computer-Lab in Basement · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 12:02:10 »

lawl

just lawl

Grim Fandango · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 13:54:32 »

I really do not like the way it looks. But mostly, I would just be annoyed with all the glossy plastic. Glossy coatings might work well for some peripherals, just not keyboards in my opinion. I do think it has some nifty features. I just do not care about any of them.

dimmu · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 05 January 2015, 20:22:12 »

Quote from: azhdar on Mon, 05 January 2015, 07:24:51

No idea about the switches but few laughable points :
dual processor in a keyboard
that spacebar

*spacepad

Hyde · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 14:28:24 »

I don't like the way this keyboard looks but I'm curious to try this switch.

fanpeople · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 16:06:32 »

I have the non mechanical version of this keyboard (it is attached to my torrent box along with a pink Barbie mouse). I bought it before I understood anything about keyboards. The one I have did get shiny very quickly and it was way too big. It appears that they have shrunk both the size and number of customisable keys which I think is an improvement. I actually liked the #spacepad although it couldn't really be argued that it improves anything as I am sure no one has trouble finding the space bar.

Dat price though on their website.... jam it up their capitalist behinds. The switches would want to be magical.

My personal feeling is that their next move is to produce their own custom keys that fit only their boards so all the poor suckers who purchase these have to buy their sets. On the bright side, they might start selling the switches to third party manufacturers and this could become a standard like MX and Topre, but I doubt it.

Findecanor · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 17:45:14 »

The switches are made by Kailh, btw. You can see their logo if you look closely. I suppose that it could have been a switch design that they already had.

I wonder how they feel. I'm not so excited about linear 3 mm throw.

_PixelNinja · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 18:41:59 »

Quote from: Findecanor on Tue, 06 January 2015, 17:45:14

The switches are made by Kailh, btw. You can see their logo if you look closely.

Yup :

tp4tissue · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 19:12:16 »

I think this switch is indeed superior to Cherry's 2mm..

I believe even 1mm is enough..

Sanwa is <1mm

munch · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 06 January 2015, 19:54:38 »

would love to try it, I like the idea of a linear low-height switch. but it's not MX (or even Topre/Alps) Compatible so there's really no point in trying to put these into a nice board if you want the fun of keycaps.

and probably won't solder onto a Cherry-switch PCB anyway.

any ideas about release date so I should know when to look for it in stores?

exit · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 07 January 2015, 01:01:02 »

This is a step in the right direction, this board will cost $199.99/199.99euro apparently.

Cherry MX Reds are flawless atm except that there's a bit too much distance, this would solve that.

tp4tissue · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 07 January 2015, 01:24:20 »

I really think they should go 1mm and below..

ianxblog · « **Reply #16 on:** Wed, 07 January 2015, 05:09:07 »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WckG_ftPyys

berserkfan · « **Reply #17 on:** Wed, 07 January 2015, 07:52:31 »

Qs1 switch? Whatever the heck that is, I don't believe it. Lets wait a year and hear if there are any complaints.

BrockSamson · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 08 January 2015, 14:50:50 »

I don't mind it that much. What I really hate, though, is how all these manufacturers make "gaming" keyboards and then use a standard layout which is just about the worse one possible for gaming.

At least make it a TKL, or do it the truly correct way and mirror the keyboard left to right so that the numpad is on the left, the arrows are next to that, and then the main typing area is on the right. Any macro keys placed to the left of the main typing area (and to the right of the arrow keys, in the mirrored layout) should be right up against the main typing area without any huge gap. They aren't that useful if you have to stretch and twist your hand to reach them. Hell, go ahead and put another row of low-profile keys under the space bar for our thumbs to use. THAT would make sense for gaming. None of this full layout with huge spaces stuff...

munch · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 08 January 2015, 15:05:30 »

mid february it seems. looking forward to it to be honest. Kailh switches aren't bad, IME. so this one could be nice.
don't like the actual kb at all, and the caps seem bleh, but I do want to try the switch.

Hyde · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 08 January 2015, 16:43:05 »

Hmmmmmm sounds like the switch weight is between mx red and mx black. That sounds perfect !

HOWEVER I still don't like the macro key to the left. Like BrockSamson said macro key under spacebar is more useful.

Also $199.99 for this? Really? I'd assume they should price it LOWER than competitor to sell well.

Oh SteelSeries ~ *shakes head*

berserkfan · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 08 January 2015, 21:20:32 »

Quote from: Hyde on Thu, 08 January 2015, 16:43:05

Hmmmmmm sounds like the switch weight is between mx red and mx black. That sounds perfect !

HOWEVER I still don't like the macro key to the left. Like BrockSamson said macro key under spacebar is more useful.

Also $199.99 for this? Really? I'd assume they should price it LOWER than competitor to sell well.

Oh SteelSeries ~ *shakes head*

Linear switches are linear switches are linear switches.

They're easiest to make and have least complications such as sound and actuation point vs tactile bump, as well as size of tactile bump, to worry about.

shogrran · « **Reply #22 on:** Sun, 11 January 2015, 13:40:08 »

The price for me is a deal-breaker. If it's too expensive I don't think it's going to be worth a try. I'll probably wait until they make a different more "essential" type of keyboard that has the same switch without the lighting and the extra keys.

Hyde · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 11 January 2015, 21:29:27 »

Quote from: shogrran on Sun, 11 January 2015, 13:40:08

The price for me is a deal-breaker. If it's too expensive I don't think it's going to be worth a try. I'll probably wait until they make a different more "essential" type of keyboard that has the same switch without the lighting and the extra keys.

I second this.

Findecanor · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 12 January 2015, 05:13:13 »

BTW, Kailh has more switches than this one up its sleeve. There is one that is almost the same but with 4 mm travel - and that one is available also as clicky (like Cherry MX Blue) or tactile (like Cherry MX Brown). We could expect to see other manufacturers use that switch. SteelSeries seems to be fixed on linear switches only.

Kailh also has a 3mm-travel Cherry MX-like switch that is also only available as linear. It looks like it is pin- and keycap-compatible with Cherry MX but is smaller in all dimensions.

katushkin · « **Reply #25 on:** Mon, 12 January 2015, 05:16:20 »

But guys, what if I want to press all 256 keys on my keyboard at once?

?

berserkfan · « **Reply #26 on:** Mon, 12 January 2015, 07:21:42 »

Quote from: katushkin on Mon, 12 January 2015, 05:16:20

But guys, what if I want to press all 256 keys on my keyboard at once??

What kind of game are you playing?

Zensuji · « **Reply #27 on:** Mon, 12 January 2015, 07:56:25 »

Lol that space bar/foot rest says it all.

Korth · « **Reply #28 on:** Sun, 22 February 2015, 23:03:42 »

I kinda like the overall styling, vaguely, insofar as it loosely resembles the traditional rectangular 104-key form factor. The sculpted edges are actually quite nice. The flattened profile combined with slightly rounded keycaps seems somehow mildly offensive to my tastes.

Some of the features of these new "QS1" switches seem intriguing. Albeit they're apparently non-tactile and people claim they feel not a lot different from Blacks.

And I love the RGB. Almost entirely useless bling, much overkill when basic backlighting would suffice, but still I love it. I really do, lol. My personal experience with older SteelSeries/Z-Engine software has been negative, however.

Onboard microprocessors with firmware and memory and acceleration and optimization and so-called anti-ghosting galore. And full 256KRO, which will likely suffice for those among us who only have 10 fingers/thumbs at their disposal.

I think it could use a second row of (5 more) left-side macro keys, although three rows would seem a bit much. It's a bit unfortunate that the macro keys above the F-keys on the earlier Apex keyboard are excluded on this one. And I'm saddened that this keyboard doesn't plant a trio of thumb macro keys at the bottom, a brilliant newish innovation I'd really like to put to use.

Of course that's all because of that disgustingly obese foot pedal they're trying to pass off as a spacebar. I can't decide if that thing is comical or tragic.

ablooga · « **Reply #29 on:** Mon, 23 February 2015, 02:19:10 »

Quote from: BrockSamson on Thu, 08 January 2015, 14:50:50

I don't mind it that much. What I really hate, though, is how all these manufacturers make "gaming" keyboards and then use a standard layout which is just about the worse one possible for gaming.

At least make it a TKL, or do it the truly correct way and mirror the keyboard left to right so that the numpad is on the left, the arrows are next to that, and then the main typing area is on the right. Any macro keys placed to the left of the main typing area (and to the right of the arrow keys, in the mirrored layout) should be right up against the main typing area without any huge gap. They aren't that useful if you have to stretch and twist your hand to reach them. Hell, go ahead and put another row of low-profile keys under the space bar for our thumbs to use. THAT would make sense for gaming. None of this full layout with huge spaces stuff...

OH wow, you know so much about gaming keyboards. And that's fact! If i was the CEO of steel series, I would hire you since you know in dept the definition of a gaming keyboard! You know what suits gamers best. And if I did hire you, you would make me a billionaire within weeks of hiring such a genius like yourself. Please, guide me. You're the Albert Einstein of gaming keyboards! I believe someday you will make a "Gaming Keyboard" meant for all gamers in the Entire World!

EscapeVelocity · « **Reply #30 on:** Sun, 07 June 2015, 18:21:07 »

I really like the new Apex with the Kaihl QS1 switches, full macro programability and customizable backlights for game macro layouts. Ill be picking one up when they go on sale/clearance.

Though I think the Roccat Ryos RGB is going to be a better gaming keyboard. Truth is, much better to just go with a gaming keypad if you are that into it.

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Author Topic: Steelseries Apex M800 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Read 7900 times)